Three choruses from the opera "Songs from the Cedar House"-
arranged for treble choir, speaker, flute, piano and percussion.
Commissioned by the Tahoma Girls' Choir, Tacoma, Washington.
Duration: 12min.
NOTES
In this cycle of three choruses, spoken texts
serve to summarize the story of the opera from which they are drawn.
The original full-length opera, premiered at Pacific Lutheran University
in 1991, deals with the interaction of White and Native American cultures
in the Pacific Northwest over the last 150 years.
INSTRUMENTATION
| Treble Choir (SSA) |
some members of the choir need to hold some medium-sized smooth
stones which are clattered together in the first movement. |
| Speaker |
the speaker can be a member of the choir, or a separate person.
A microphone for the speaker might be useful, particularly in the third
movement, when he/she speaks over the music. |
| Flute |
| Piano |
the pianist needs to be able to reach in and damp with a finger
the close end of the lower strings. |
| Percussion: |
| Player 1: |
| Rattle |
a maraca will do, but if another, rougher sounding rattle is available,
it should be used. |
| Vibraslap |
preferably mounted on a flexible stand so that it rattles freely but need not be held. |
| Bamboo Wind Chime |
| Player 2: |
| 2 Tomtoms |
(high and low) these may be any kind of orchestral tomtoms, but if
available, single-headed hoop drums of some kind should be used. Mallets
should be medium to soft. |
Back to Treble/Children's Choir
|
